- A bad shingleThe manufacturer
- An install mistakeYour roofer
- A stormYour insurance
Ask for each one in writing: what’s covered, for how long, and who to call.
Understand your roof
Roof warranties: who pays?
Ask your roofer
- Is this the standard warranty or an upgraded one, and who registers it?
- Does it cover labor and tear-off, and for how many years?
- How long is your workmanship warranty, and is it in writing?
- If your company closes, who covers the workmanship?
- Does the warranty transfer if I sell the house?
Ask them to put the answer in writing.
Why it matters
“Lifetime” usually covers the shingle, not the labor, and shrinks after a few years. If your roofer closes, their workmanship warranty closes with them.
How it should be built
- The warranty is registered with the manufacturer in your name.
- It says in writing whether labor and tear-off are covered, and for how many years.
- The roofer’s workmanship warranty has a stated length, in writing.
- At the top level, the manufacturer backs the workmanship too, even if the roofer closes.
- It transfers to the next owner if you sell.